C81 — Using the Rules
by UntamedSHe Fei and Chi Lian looked genuinely interested, pricking up their ears to listen attentively.
But Mu Sichen grew more cautious.
He hadn’t forgotten the truth of this world: the more you learn, the more likely you are to be corrupted.
Even someone as powerful as Yao Wangping had nearly lost the ability to wield the Guardian’s Sword after being unknowingly tainted by the influence of the sanatorium.
And then there was Shen Jiyue—so thoughtful and helpful to Mu Sichen, always offering assistance and intelligence—only to reveal in the end that it was all a ploy to corrupt him.
The Dreamweaver Favored One’s expression grew nostalgic, and he began in a calm voice, “This is a long story. Back then, I—”
“I get it. The answer’s simple—you were corrupted by the Butterfly. I’m not interested in your backstory. Just tell us what our punishment is. We’re in a hurry,” Mu Sichen cut him off bluntly, killing the mood of the narrative.
“Why jump to punishment so fast?” He Fei leaned in and whispered, “Wouldn’t it be smarter to stall for time?”
Mu Sichen replied, “I think he’s the one stalling. Seems like he can’t do anything to us right now.”
Mu Sichen had come to this conclusion the moment the Dreamweaver expressed a desire for a long conversation.
Though he didn’t know much about Dream Butterfly Town, he did understand the dynamic between the “Pillars” and the Favored Ones.
Favored Ones were guardians of the Pillar, but they too had to obey its rules.
While under the Pillar’s protection, even a Favored One couldn’t harm someone shielded by its rules.
Back at the sanatorium, Mu Sichen had leveraged rule contradictions to simultaneously challenge both the Pillar and the Feather-Eyed Favored One. Yet, under the rule’s protection, neither had been able to touch him.
Based on this, Mu Sichen suspected that the Ideal Restaurant similarly protected guests who followed the rules.
They had arrived, ordered food, dined, and entered the dream sequence. Every step of the process had been completed. That meant they now counted as energy reserves of the Pillar—and the Pillar wouldn’t allow anyone, not even a Favored One, to tamper with its energy stores.
Mu Sichen could sense that the Dreamweaver was powerful—but after using only one ability (to draw them into sleep), he’d stopped.
And once he saw they didn’t fall asleep, he’d switched to playing nice and trying to tell a story.
That had to be suspicious.
The Dreamweaver, recovering from being interrupted, calmly resumed, “No, you misunderstand. I haven’t abandoned my original faith. I now serve both the Deep Sea and the Dreamweaver. The Dreamweaver is an incredibly inclusive—”
Mu Sichen cut him off again. “I just remembered—didn’t you ask us to come to your office so we could give feedback on the dishes? Shouldn’t we be telling the Chef our thoughts? That’s the only way to help Ideal Restaurant improve its cuisine.”
He spoke rapidly, not giving the Dreamweaver a chance to interrupt.
“Here, I’ll start—just tossing some ideas out.”
“I’ve understood Ideal Restaurant’s core concept. Dreams reflect a person’s subconscious desires that they don’t even realize they have; normally suppressed by morality or law, they emerge in surreal forms during dreams.”
“But raw dreams are too vague, too fragmented. People don’t remember them clearly. Their brains also record a lot of irrelevant, useless data.”
“So, to give guests a truly beautiful dream, Ideal Restaurant absorbs their dream essence, cleans out the useless parts, fills in what’s missing, and refines the whole thing—transforming a fuzzy subconscious sketch into a vivid, fully realized dream that fulfills even the most hidden human desires.”
“Based on that dream experience just now,” Mu Sichen said, “I think your dishes suffer from a bit of an information cocoon problem.”
He said all this casually, even pulling out his phone and blatantly sending messages in front of the Dreamweaver Favored One, sharing what he’d said in the group chat. He instructed He Fei and Chi Lian to prepare themselves and give their own opinions.
Chi Lian picked up the cue immediately:
“You only process a customer’s existing dream to satisfy their current desires—doesn’t that feel a bit one-dimensional? A person’s cognition is limited. The things they want are dictated by what they already know.”
“But once they experience a higher level of pleasure, their dreams evolve.”
“For example, when I was a kid, a basic fruit candy could make me happy. But now? I want the most exquisite cake. Fruit candy tastes awful to me now. Yet you just keep giving me fruit candy—never letting me even see what cake could taste like.”
He Fei nodded along, faking thoughtfulness:
“Sticking to tradition is the biggest trap for any so-called ‘innovative’ enterprise.”
Mu Sichen concluded:
“You could try experimenting more. Like today—we swapped meals, and it was fun, even creative. That’s our feedback. Anything else you’d like to discuss?”
The Dreamweaver, who had been calm and gentle until now, suddenly looked quiet in a different way—like the calm of the sea before a storm.
Mu Sichen saw that expression and knew he’d made the right gamble.
They had followed the restaurant’s rules. The Dreamweaver knew something was off about them, but the Pillar’s rules weren’t intelligent; you couldn’t reason with them.
The Dreamweaver had no choice but to use their “dissatisfaction with the dishes” as a loophole—inviting them to the office under the pretext of collecting feedback.
Why had the Dreamweaver only tried one trick—drawing them into sleep?
Mu Sichen had a guess: it was all part of the “tasting a new dish” process.
Because they had a “bad dining experience,” the Head Chef invited them to give “suggestions” and “sample” something new. That was the only way to limit their actions under the Pillar’s system.
But once they gave constructive feedback, the chef no longer had any excuse to keep them.
They could walk out freely.
“We’re not interested in any stories,” Mu Sichen said politely. “We’ll be leaving now. That okay with you?”
The Dreamweaver Favored One took a deep breath, suppressing his rising fury. With a flawless service smile, he bowed slightly and extended a hand:
“Thank you for your valuable feedback. I’ll try to create dishes that broaden customers’ preferences. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Mu Sichen gave a respectful nod, and the three of them turned and walked out of the chef’s office—without so much as a backward glance.
Mu Sichen swore he heard the roar of a tsunami b
ehind them.
The moment they stepped out, He Fei slumped to the floor against the wall, legs like jelly.
“That’s weird. The Dreamweaver Favored One was so polite, I wasn’t even scared. So why can’t I walk properly?”
Chi Lian had dropped to one knee. “Did he attack me? I feel like I can only crawl right now.”
“Probably not,” Mu Sichen said as he lifted his hand. It was shaking uncontrollably.
He Fei stared at him. “Why are you trembling like that?”
“It’s pressure,” Mu Sichen said calmly. “When we left the room, he stopped suppressing his power. We just… felt the difference between us. That’s all.”
The Dreamweaver hadn’t done anything overt, hadn’t attacked.
But just being near him, being exposed to that aura, had overwhelmed their instincts.
Though his ability had dulled their conscious minds, their bodies still sensed the vast power gap.
And the moment they left his immediate sphere of influence, the suppressed fear and awe surged forward.
All they could do was shake.
The Dreamweaver Favored One’s strength was far beyond that of an ordinary Favored One—Mu Sichen suspected his power was frighteningly close to that of a Star-Hidden One.
He could reach into the real world to absorb human souls—possessing an influence so vast, so potent, it was nearly divine.
But wasn’t the Butterfly just another god-tier entity like Big-Eye?
Why was it… so different?
—
He Fei was practically crawling toward the elevator, muttering, “Even if I can’t walk, I need to get out of here. This is terrifying!”
Chi Lian, dressed in workout clothes for ease of movement, still had enough pride to not crawl like He Fei. She leaned heavily against the wall, bent at the waist, dragging herself forward step by shaky step.
She realized she couldn’t even clench her fists—her hands were too weak to obey.
He Fei and Chi Lian were desperate to flee, but Mu Sichen turned to glance at the Chef’s office door and said calmly:
“No. We’re not leaving.”
“Why not?” the two asked in unison.
Mu Sichen replied,
“As long as we stay inside the restaurant and follow its rules, we’re under the protection of the Pillar. But once we leave the range of the Ideal Restaurant, do you think the Dreamweaver Favored One will let us come back? Do you really think we can withstand his power out there?”
The two, who had just moments ago been anxious to escape, stopped in their tracks—and simply sat down on the floor to recover their strength.
They had been terrified of being trapped inside the restaurant…
Now, just half an hour later, they were even more afraid of being kicked out.
—
“This isn’t some entertainment complex or shopping mall,” He Fei muttered. “We already had our meal. What excuse do we have to stay here?”
“I’m still thinking,” Mu Sichen said. “But I’ve just sent a list of the rules we’ve figured out so far into the group chat. Memorize them. If either of you finds new rules, share them right away.”
The two opened their phones and read carefully.
—
Current Rule Summary:
Rule 1: The restaurant seems to follow a “customer first” principle. Its goal is to ensure every guest is satisfied. As long as they remain “customers,” their lives are relatively safe—aside from being absorbed by the Pillar, of course.
Rule 2: Everyone inside the restaurant is real, but the staff show some inhuman traits. It’s useful to talk with the employees and learn more about them.
Rule 3: You can make suggestions about the restaurant, but they must be constructive. Petty or unreasonable complaints won’t be accepted—and could get you punished.
Rule 4: Even as a customer, you can’t harass other customers. And if you do, don’t let the restaurant catch you.
So far, this was all Mu Sichen had pieced together. He was certain there were more rules, still waiting to be discovered.
—
Once the others finished memorizing them, Mu Sichen looked toward the call button on the wall. He limped over, using the wall for support, and pressed the service bell.
A cheerful voice answered from the speaker:
“Hello, how may I help you?”
Mu Sichen replied:
“We’re the guests who just gave feedback in the head chef’s office. We sampled a new dish there, and now, for some reason, we’re feeling very unwell and can’t walk properly. Do you have wheelchairs available? We need three.”
“Of course. Someone will come pick you up shortly,” the voice responded.
Mu Sichen ended the call.
He had spoken loudly—if the Dreamweaver Favored One wasn’t deaf, he definitely would’ve heard it through the door.
Sure enough, no sooner had he hung up than the office door creaked open.
The Dreamweaver stood there, emotionless, his deep-blue eyes radiating restrained fury.
Mu Sichen’s legs gave out, and he plopped to the ground—but his voice remained light and calm:
“It’s true you didn’t attack us directly. But your very presence caused us pain. I feel awful right now—far from happy. Would that count as an assault on us, and an extremely unpleasant dining experience, Chef?”
The Dreamweaver Favored One stared at Mu Sichen, as if trying to engrave his image into memory.
Then, he gently closed and reopened his eyes. Now, the anger in his gaze had completely disappeared, replaced only by a tranquil blue.
All his emotions were buried deep in the ocean of his heart.
The Dreamweaver Favored One said, “This guest… your name is Mu Sichen, right? I’ve remembered your name.”
Ever since they entered Butterfly Dream Town, the three of them had never addressed each other by full name. Dining at the Ideal Restaurant didn’t require registration either, so it was unclear how the Dreamweaver Attendant knew Mu Sichen’s name.
Mu Sichen’s expression remained calm—he had faced many enemies, and didn’t fear adding one more. He was already being watched by Qin Zhou, Shen Jiyue, and the Star-Hidden level Zhuo Huaichu. A nearly Star-Hidden level opponent like Nie Yihai was not worth panicking over.
“It’s an honor to be remembered by you,” Mu Sichen said politely.
Just then, three waiters rushed out of the elevator, pushing wheelchairs, and helped the trio into them.
Mu Sichen asked the waiter assisting him, “Does this count as being maliciously injured by staff of your esteemed restaurant?”
Actor King He Fei cooperatively pounded his legs and wailed, “I can’t stand up anymore! Will I ever walk again? What if I develop a psychological trauma toward Ideal Restaurant?”
Chi Lian silently shed tears. “I don’t feel happy at all.”
The waiter gave a dry laugh, glanced at the Dreamweaver Favored One, and asked, “Chef, what should we do?”
“Report it truthfully,” the Dreamweaver Favored One replied, separating public from private matters. “It was my negligence. I deserve to be punished.”
His candid attitude gave Mu Sichen a vague sense of unease.
The waiter turned on his earpiece and reported the trio’s situation honestly.
A moment later, an announcement echoed throughout the restaurant:
“Head Chef Nie Yihai has violated the Ideal Restaurant’s rules by harming honored guests and damaging the restaurant’s reputation. The restaurant has decided to suspend him. The Dreamweaver Favored One currently on leave will temporarily take over as Head Chef. Repeating, Head Chef…”
Mu Sichen had now fully grasped how rigid the rules of a ‘Pillar’ were.
The ‘Pillar’ of Hope Town wasn’t like this at all—it was entirely under Mu Sichen’s control, without any convoluted system of rules to constrain him.
The difference likely stemmed from the fact that other ‘Pillars’ were built on the foundation of human souls, whereas the souls of Hope Town had already been purified by Mu Sichen.
Humans were, after all, still human—even the most devout beliefs were tinged with self-interest.
In life, they were controlled by indoctrination and appear obedient. But after death, freed of such restraints and empowered, their souls inevitably revealed some defiance.
A few uniformed security guards came upstairs and escorted the Dreamweaver Favored One away, while Mu Sichen and the others were pushed into the elevator by the waiters.
There was only one elevator in the office area, so they had to share the space.
Fortunately, the ride from the 5th floor to the 1st was short.
Even so, it was long enough for the Dreamweaver Favored One to speak a few words.
He said to Mu Sichen and the others, “Among all the great beings, the ‘Dreamweaver’ cherishes its subjects the most. Since the founding of Butterfly Dream Town, not a single townsfolk has died. It is highly inclusive, allowing its subjects to retain their original beliefs. In this world, only one great being may stand above all—and that is the ‘Dreamweaver.’”
The moment the Dreamweaver Favored One began speaking, Mu Sichen sensed danger. He immediately used the power of his personal totem to seal off Chi Lian and He Fei’s five senses, to prevent them from being corrupted by the Favored One’s words.
But it seemed the Favored One was just making a threat.
The elevator reached the first floor. As the security guards escorted the Dreamweaver Favored One out, he passed by Mu Sichen and left him with one last line:
“The emotion of trust that you have —I like it very much.”
He gave a meaningful smile and left the Ideal Restaurant.
“Drip, drip”—two drops of blood landed on Mu Sichen’s shoulder.
Only then did he realize that blood had begun to flow from his ears at some point.
And yet, he felt nothing.
TN:
Multtiiii updates, the drama continues 😁
Thank you for the chapters!